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Technical Bouncy Suspension

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Technical Bouncy Suspension

I love the rear end 'twitch' when cornering.

Makes me as one with the car - I can actually feel the car and I like the way it immediately takes up the grip again. I first noticed it during my long test drive and thought of it as another bonus point in choosing the 500.

Despite this twitch, I feel very safe in the 500.

Driving excitment has returned!!
 
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Of course i had a test-drive.. but i didn't have the chance to do it on a bumpy road.
Secondly, well I'm used to turning corners in the air but not at such low speeds.
About the reviews, I read about it losing control when hitting transverse anomalies on the road.
Anyway, it will get lower soon. I hope it will help.
 
What you have to remember is the 500 is based on/is the Panda of 2003. The Panda was delibertaely designed to bring some fun back into driving as cars had got so dull. So, it leans and rolls, bounces and skips about. Of course, its not for everyone but suits people who enjoy low speed thrills:)
 
nuovapanda said:
What you have to remember is the 500 is based on/is the Panda of 2003. The Panda was delibertaely designed to bring some fun back into driving as cars had got so dull. So, it leans and rolls, bounces and skips about. Of course, its not for everyone but suits people who enjoy low speed thrills:)
Click to expand...

Yep, tis great and i wouldn't change it for the world:)

si
 
nuovapanda said:
What you have to remember is the 500 is based on/is the Panda of 2003. The Panda was delibertaely designed to bring some fun back into driving as cars had got so dull. So, it leans and rolls, bounces and skips about. Of course, its not for everyone but suits people who enjoy low speed thrills:)
Click to expand...

I think I am a very typical greek driver... one of those who do not like speed limits! Has anyone tried the thrill with high speeds, like turning 90 degrees with 85+ km/h on a bumpy road?...or should i say alley!

If the "flight" isn't worse than driving in normal speeds (50 km/h i suppose) I'm sure i should try it, else... i think i will need all 7 of "flame's" air-bags!
(flame: Yeap!!! My car has been named :p)
 
having done nearly 8000 miles now the bouncy-ness has almost completely gone, even going from 1 car to another the bounce is no longer noticable so its not a case of just getting used to it, mine is running on 16" wheels i have noticed the "drift" it only happens on realy bumpy roads on the majority of corner's the car will understeer way before anything happens with the back end even mid corner lift off just tightens the line without any fuss, i still might lower it though.. for the look (y)
 
We should really note here that the three 500s - 1.2 8v, diesel 1.3, and 1.4 16v - all have different spring rates and bump stop specifications (my 1.4 has polymer bump stops). So in fact, they are all somewhat different in terms of ride and handling. As White 500 says, they are much stiffer when new than after a decent mileage, too.

With my 1.4, you certainly have to stay on top of it when driving quickly on a poorly surfaced B road. On the other hand, this scampering progress does make it all feel rather faster than it actually is, and as the car never does anything dangerous I am inclined to forgive it in the cause of fun.

John
 
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I drove a Panda 100HP at the weekend and it was much better controlled than a 500 1.4 whilst still being lively and fun.

There is too much suspension travel on the 500 (it is riding too high) which causes large pitch and yaw movements. The springs are pretty stiff but underdamped... Go figure!

Lowering gives a massive improvement in control and fittting progressive springs like the Eibachs will maintain ride quality.
 
Not strictly true about maintaing ride comfort, any kit will have a detrimental effect on the ride quality over bad surfaces. The 100HP rides awful on potholed roads IMO.

Thing is, if you want a sportier ride then buy the Panda 100HP, I ddnt so bought the 500.
Whats needed is for the Sport 500s to actually be sporty, like the Panda 100hp.
 
I think that a great improvement could be made simply by changing to better dampers, if one could source them. Perhaps someone could suggest something? I am not too confident about lowering the car, as I have to (as part of my job) negotiate some pretty awful unmade farm tracks with huge potholes and ruts, and we scrape things underneath from time to time as it is.

We also have to bear in mind that the makers of tiny cars like the 500 have a difficult problem, in that the suspension has to cater for the worst-case scenario of four large adults (could be 400kg) to the opposite extreme of just a lightweight driver like me (50kg). It's a tough call to make this work on a light, short-wheelbase car.

John
 
John R Smith said:
I think that a great improvement could be made simply by changing to better dampers, if one could source them. Perhaps someone could suggest something? I am not too confident about lowering the car, as I have to (as part of my job) negotiate some pretty awful unmade farm tracks with huge potholes and ruts, and we scrape things underneath from time to time as it is.

We also have to bear in mind that the makers of tiny cars like the 500 have a difficult problem, in that the suspension has to cater for the worst-case scenario of four large adults (could be 400kg) to the opposite extreme of just a lightweight driver like me (50kg). It's a tough call to make this work on a light, short-wheelbase car.

John
Click to expand...


By all accounts Ford solved this problem. I havent driven it so cant comment first hand but I may take a test drive just to compare them.
I do know that my 500 is now far less "skitty" compared to when it was new.
 
John R Smith said:
I think that a great improvement could be made simply by changing to better dampers, if one could source them. Perhaps someone could suggest something? I am not too confident about lowering the car, as I have to (as part of my job) negotiate some pretty awful unmade farm tracks with huge potholes and ruts, and we scrape things underneath from time to time as it is.

We also have to bear in mind that the makers of tiny cars like the 500 have a difficult problem, in that the suspension has to cater for the worst-case scenario of four large adults (could be 400kg) to the opposite extreme of just a lightweight driver like me (50kg). It's a tough call to make this work on a light, short-wheelbase car.

John
Click to expand...

you have exactly described the inherent compromise - and why i have just fitted fully adjustable suspension - adjustable height and adjustable damping

Spax RSX kit - available in a few months time
 
Although the new KA has improved the 500's ride/handling marginally it is still far from perfect and certainly inferior overall to the original KA.
 
i would suggest that the main issue is with the poor quality of the UK roads rather than the suspension...

a small light car is never going to have the same ride quality as a larger one and perhaps that it half the issue - people downsizing expect similar ride quality to their C segment cars?
 
LOL, of course the fact that the original KA has rust prone bodywork, a naff and cheap interior, awful rattly engine and a god awful looking rear end make it far superior to the better built, better looking and modern engined Fiat KA:):):)
 
nuovapanda said:
LOL, of course the fact that the original KA has rust prone bodywork, a naff and cheap interior, awful rattly engine and a god awful looking rear end make it far superior to the better built, better looking and modern engined Fiat KA:):):)
Click to expand...

Only mentioned ride/handling, don't misquote me or i'll sue your a*se.;)
 
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